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The Sheffield culture guide written by in-the-know locals

Working in Historic Gardens: moving on or keeping it original

£5 for non-members of Friends of the Botanical Gardens

As part of their programme of online talks, Friends of the Botanical Gardens host environmental horticulturalist Pilar Medrano Dell.

Pilar became infatuated with plants and gardens over fifteen years ago while studying Garden History at Birkbeck College University of London.

After a long career in journalism as a current affairs documentary producer and broadcaster, Pilar immersed herself in the natural world of plants and horticulture and has worked as head gardener and horticulture manager for a number of large historic estates. In this lecture she examines the question of restoring historic gardens back to their original inception or to a more contemporary take, and the emotional effect this has on us. She will illustrate her lecture with examples of her own professional work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, English Heritage Wrest Park, and the Kensington Roof Gardens amongst others.

At present she is exploring the benefits of social and therapeutic horticulture and how to apply it to our everyday life.

Pilar is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and the Royal Horticultural Society Herbaceous Plant Committee.

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